Friday, July 10, 2020

Jacob 7:5-7


5 And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me.  And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.
6 And it came to pass that he came unto me, and on this wise did he speak unto me, saying: Brother Jacob, I have sought much opportunity that I might speak unto you; for I have heard and also know that thou goest about much, preaching that which ye call the gospel, or the doctrine of Christ.
7 And ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way; and convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence.  And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come.  And after this manner did Sherem contend against me.
Jacob 7:5-7

Why had Sherem come to challenge Jacob?  Jacob tells us “he had hope to shake me from the faith.”  After all that Jacob had been through during his lifetime, only an outsider would believe he could shake Jacob’s faith.

Jacob’s faith was based on the revelations he had seen.  Speaking to the Nephites earlier he told them, “Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ—for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name—should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God” (2 Nephi 10:3).  Nephi had faith in his brother’s testimony and commitment to the gospel because “my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true.  Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words?” (2 Nephi 11:3).

Jacob had also seen angels and heard the voice of the Lord.  As a part of his blessing given to Jacob, Lehi told him, “And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.  And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free” (2 Nephi 2:4).  Sherem was on a fool’s errand if he thought he could shake Jacob’s faith.

After making previous attempts to meet with Jacob, Sherem finally meets him.  He tells him why he wants to speak with him.  “I have heard and also know that thou goest about much, preaching that which ye call the gospel, or doctrine of Christ.” “Nephi and his brother Jacob apparently spoke of the gospel of Jesus Christ by the name of the ‘doctrine of Christ’ (see 2 Nephi 31:2, 21; 32:6; Jacob 7:2, 6). They used these two terms for the teaching of Christ interchangeably (see Jacob 7:6).”[1]

Sherem’s statement to Jacob implies that he was most likely a part of the Nephite population.

“Now, the population of adult males descended from the original group could not have exceeded fifty at that time. This would have been only enough to populate one modest-sized village. Thus Sherem’s is a strange statement. Jacob, as head priest and religious teacher, would routinely have been around the Nephite temple in the cultural center at least on all holy days (see Jacob 2:2). How then could Sherem never have seen him, and why would he have had to seek ‘much opportunity’ to speak to him in such a tiny settlement? And where would Jacob have had to go on the preaching travels Sherem refers to, if only such a tiny group were involved. Moreover, from where was it that Sherem ‘came . . . among the people of Nephi’ (Jacob 7:1)? The text and context of this incident would make little sense if the Nephite population had resulted only from natural demographic increase.”[2]

Sherem wastes no time leveling his accusations.  Looking at the accusations, it’s apparent he was familiar with the Law of Moses.  John Welch explains Sherem’s accusations.

“In light of the ancient Israelite criminal law that was in force among the Nephites at this time and at least up to the time of the reforms of Mosiah (see 2 Nephi 5:10; Jarom 1:5; Mosiah 17:7–8; Alma 1:17), it is evident that Sherem’s accusations were serious allegations. On three accounts, he accused Jacob of offenses punishable by death:

Ye have [1] led away much of this people that they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way; and convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is [2] blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things; for he [3] cannot tell of things to come. (Jacob 7:7).[3]


[1] Nephi’s Teachings in the Book of Mormon, Noel B. Reynolds, Maxwell Institute.
[2] When Lehi’s Party Arrived in the Land, Did They Find Others There? John L. Sorenson, Maxwell Institute.
[3] Sherem’s Accusations against Jacob, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute.

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